KEEPING IT CLEAN

Posted on 1 November 2007
- 12:00

Paul Robinson, perhaps naturally given his position on the pitch, viewed a clean sheet as the most important aspect of the performance against Blackpool at the Lane.

Paul Robinson, perhaps naturally given his position on the pitch, viewed a clean sheet as the most important aspect of the performance against Blackpool at the Lane.The team progressed through to the last eight of the Carling Cup on Wednesday night by a 2-0 scoreline courtesy of goals from Robbie Keane and Pascal Chimbonda.

It was an encouraging start to the reign of Juande Ramos, the Head Coach who began working with the players on Monday. The goalkeeper believes the message of the new man is quickly getting over to the players.

"I thought we did reasonably well," reflected Robbo after the game. "He has given us a lot of information in the last couple of days and the important thing we wanted tonight was a clean sheet - and we got that.

"The Head Coach's communication has been excellent, we've trained very hard over the last three days and he has tried to get his message across as quickly as possible. There is a lot he wants to get across and I'm sure that in time we will get better.

"There is still work that can be done and will be done.

"Results bring confidence, the Head Coach with the aura and presence he has about him, has also generated confidence. If we keep winning you will see a very confident Tottenham team getting great results," he continued, adding that players always have to start anew and prove themselves when there is a change at the top.

"That is how it is when a new man comes in - it is like your first day at a new club. Everyone is on trial again, it is a new start for everybody and we've got to start our season from tonight."

It is on to Middlesbrough and a bid for a first away win of the season at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday against a side just above ourselves in the table.

"We are only a quarter of the way through and we certainly didn't want to be where we are at this stage of the season. Middlesbrough are down there with us so it is big game for both teams.

"It is a very tough league and anybody could be down there, there are the teams right at the top and outside of that everyone is doing damage to each other."